Yahoo Sports Which Carolina Hurricanes Prospects Could Make the Jump to the NHL This Year?
The NHL's return is just around the corner and with training camp less than a month away, we'll can finally start to figure out what the 2024-25 iteration of the Carolina Hurricanes will look like.
While most of the roster can already be penciled into starting spots for the Oct. 11 season opener, there's still a handful of question marks and perhaps there's a few prospects who could be the answer.
Carolina GM Eric Tulsky hinted as much in his free agency press conference:
"We have some young players in the NHL who are ready to grow and we have some players who are just a little bit away from the NHL who are ready to step into NHL roles. So seeing them continue to take steps forward is a big part of how we keep this going and leaving them the opportunity to do that is part of the job here."
So which of the Hurricanes' prospects have the best chance of making the team out of training camp?
Bradly Nadeau
RW, 19
The 2023 30th-overall pick has impressed in every step of his development so far.
From a league-leading year in the BCHL (45 goals and 113 points in 54 games) to a breakout rookie season in the NCAA with the University of Maine (19 goals and 46 points in 37 games), Nadeau has proved capable at every level.
"The jump from Penticton (BCHL) to the NCAA is honestly probably a bigger jump than what [Nadeau's] going to do next," said Carolina Hurricanes Associate General Manager Darren Yorke. "No disrespect to the leagues that he played in previously, but that's a huge jump. And going from Penticton to the NCAA and showing every single asset that he's had previously, it's incredible and it's a credit to him and the style that he plays with and the ability to not be afraid to continue to try and make plays."
Related: Bradly Nadeau is perfectly built for the Carolina Hurricanes
Nadeau is a natural-born goal scorer with a high-end release. He has strong offensive instincts and knows where to go to score.
One of the biggest things the Canadian winger mentioned after his first NHL game was how much faster the game was.
"I could tell it was way faster so I think that's something that is a bit of a jump," Nadeau said. "I felt good out there and it's just going to be adapting to all the other things like how physical they are and how they pass the puck faster, play faster."
If Nadeau can match that speed out of camp, there's a good chance he'll earn a spot on the roster.
"It's exciting and something I look forward to, but I know it's going to be a lot of hard work and the summer is a big part of that. I'll have a tough summer here ahead of me."
Felix Unger Sorum
LW, 18
Last season, Unger Sorum was the youngest NHL prospect as his birthday was just one day before the eligibility cutoff.
Despite that though, the Swedish winger was one of the Hurricanes' final cuts from camp and he even had the chance to play with some of the Canes' top guys in the preseason.
"To be honest with you, I wasn’t sure," Rod Brind'Amour said during last year's camp. "Kid just turned 18. You’re not sure how he’s gonna take the moment and he looked like he had no problems. He was hanging onto pucks, almost too much at times. He was trying to make plays all the time so you like to see that, especially in these kinds of games. He was solid. You don’t teach some things which is that poise and some guys just have it and you can see he has it. He caught my eye for sure.”
Related: Felix Unger Sorum: The NHL's Youngest Prospect
The 2023 second-round pick went back to Sweden after last year's camp where he played in the SHL against men and even was named to the World Championship Roster.
"It's maybe even a bigger jump going from the J20 league to the SHL and then going from the SHL to the World Championships," Yorke said. "His steep progression is incredible, but it's really a credit to how smart he is, how competitive he is and the other thing that I think we really have to be reminded of is just how young he is. But you say all these things and it just gets you excited because there's so much growth that still can happen."
Unger Sorum has a ton of poise with the puck and is always looking to make a play. He's got high-end vision and isn't afraid to chase down pucks in the corner either.
The biggest thing for him will just be continuing to fill out his frame, but his hockey IQ alone could make him NHL ready.
Jackson Blake
RW, 21
After being drafted by Carolina in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, the North Dakota native has had an exponential development curve.
Blake had a big year in the USHL with the Chicago Steel following his draft year and then spent two seasons at the University of North Dakota where he put up over 100 points as a Fighting Hawk.
This season, Blake was one of three finalists for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award after putting up 22 goals and 60 points — along with first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini (who won) and the NCAA's top scorer Cutter Gauthier.
Blake is a strong playmaker with a high-end motor; oh, and he knows how to score too. He works well in tight and elevates the players around him.
With the most playing experience of the trio, he could use that as a spring board for impressing the coaching staff.
Related: Can Rookie Jackson Blake Make The Hurricanes Roster Out Of Training Camp?
Ryan Suzuki
C, 23
While I don't think the 2019 first-round pick will make the Hurricanes' roster out of training camp (mostly due to the team being set at center), I do think Suzuki could be an early call-up option for the team.
It's been tough sledding for the Ontario native as he's dealt with a plethora of injuries throughout his young career.
He's a strong two-way player, good skater and has the skillset to make it to the top level, it's just a matter of can he find the opportunity within a prospect pool that's only getting deeper.
I think there's still an NHL player here and perhaps he can get a shot sometime this season.
Scott Morrow
D, 21
The Hurricanes are just too deep on the blueline for the 2021 second rounder to have a true opportunity, but honestly, that's probably the best for him.
He's freshly removed from college where he played three really good seasons at UMass and having at least a year in the AHL to be the number one defenseman and run the top power play will be better for his development than being a seventh defenseman who plays limited/sheltered minutes.
He's not going to leapfrog any of the Canes' current NHL defensemen and he might not even be the first callup either.
But in a year or two, he should be making an impact as a high-level player.
